Pure Sport and Aethereal are Sok Hop’s upcoming performers for today, Tuesday, March 17. Learn about the origins of the musicians, their music and where they plan to go.
Pure Sport
Pure Sport is a hardcore punk band from Las Vegas made up of Jared Scott on bass and vocals, Justin Tejeda on guitar and vocals and Santiago Luna on drums.
Scott and Luna grew up together and had played in a band with each other previously. Scott met Tejeda during that time of his life and the pair had talked about creating music together in the future. After the breakup of Scott and Luna’s band, they decided it was time to band together with Tejeda, and in 2022, Pure Sport was born.
While brainstorming a name for their new group, Scott spotted his Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant on his desk, and there was no going back.
“One of the worst parts about being a band is the fact that you are kind of trying to run a business in a way,” Scott said. “It feels so shitty being like ‘Yeah we’re artists, man. Come support us, but also buy our merch and stream our music.’”
Their corporate image makes it easier for them to be transparent about the business aspects of their musical careers while digging on corporate America and capitalism. Pure Sport wants to give people a company that they can feel good about as they’re “clocking in.”
The band’s punk sound came to them naturally as they became angry with the circumstances of the current state of the world.
Pure Sport’s Instagram bio reads, “Awful music streaming now.”
“Every show that we play, people are like, ‘We’re so stoked to see you!’ and I’m like, ‘We’re going to be the worst band you see tonight,’” Scott said. “So you set the bar low and then we exceed expectations, even if by a small amount.”
The musicians strive for thematic elements in their songs and take inspiration from their life experiences as well as those happening around them. They have a strong desire to create and their music impacts them just as much as those who listen.
“Be free, be yourself, and get out there and be wild,” Scott said. “You only get one life, so get weird with it.”
“And be a good person while doing it,” Tejera chimed in.
Three boys rocking so hard they drip sweat in thrifted suits await you at tonight’s performance.
Aethereal
Aethereal is a heavy metal band from Las Vegas. The group has been together since 2025 and consists of Cheyenne Lizotte on bass guitar and vocals, Braden Suslow on drums and Gabriel Garcia on lead guitar.
All the musicians have been playing music since childhood, but Lizotte and Suslow decided to create a band after meeting in music school. At the pair’s first show, they saw Garcia performing as well. It wasn’t until two years later they got together for a jam session and formed Aethereal, a reference to “Call of Duty Zombies”.
Their unique sound was inspired in part by their name, pulling from ethereal and angelic melodies and meshing them with hardcore rhythms. The band’s songwriting process stems from a place of relatability, using life experiences like relationships, mental health and personal issues to write up lyrics.
Aethereal has used their music as a creative outlet to escape their “safe space” and reality. Playing live shows allows the band members to express their emotions and share them with the audience.
Future plans for the band include moving out of Nevada and releasing an album. On their upcoming performance, Lizotte says, “You’re probably going to go crazy and cry.”
Pure Sport and Aethereal will be playing at Sok Hop tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.
